A common running injury is a calf strain or a tear. When you pull a calf muscle, it is a strain between two muscles in the lower back of your leg that make up your calf. These muscles are referred as the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
Calf injuries usually occur as a result of a sudden pushing off movement or from excessive over-stretching of the calf muscles or during quick changes of direction.
Common signs of a stained calf
– Sharp pain
– Throbbing pain at rest with sharp stabs of pain with movement
– Weakness in the calf area
– Tightness
– Bruising and swelling
– Find it hard to walk, climb stairs or stand
– At the time of injury, a snap/pull felt (Grade 1 & 2 strain) or pop heard (Grade 3 strain)
Treatment and Rehab
A structured rehabilitation program is important for optimum recovery from a calf strain or tear.
Treatment and Rehabilitation for soft tissue injuries can include:
– Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (R.I.C.E)
– Therapeutic Ultrasound
– Dry Needling
– Sports massage
– Taping
– Stretches
Return to Sport
In order to prevent a recurrence of injury when returning to sport, your Osteopath or health practitioner can help guide you with exercises to address the important components of rehabilitation to both prevent a recurrence and improve your sporting performance.
Depending on the demands of the chosen sport, you may require sport-specific exercises and a progressed training regime to enable an injury-free return to your chosen sport.
Early intervention is the most important part in helping patients achieve the best and fastest results possible.
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This post was written by Dr Georgina Fisher.
You can find out more about Georgina here or book an appointment online here.
Alternatively, you can call the clinic on 03 9908 2844.